Vayeishev 38:8 · EXTRA

EXTRA · Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 38:8 · not a Torah Temimah citation on this passuk

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוּדָה֙ לְאוֹנָ֔ן בֹּ֛א אֶל־אֵ֥שֶׁת אָחִ֖יךָ וְיַבֵּ֣ם אֹתָ֑הּ וְהָקֵ֥ם זֶ֖רַע לְאָחִֽיךָ׃

Then Judah said to Onan, “Join with your brother’s wife and do your dutyaduty Cf. Deut. 25.5. by her as a brother-in-law, and provide offspring for your brother.”

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Classical source (EXTRA side-ring): Yevamos 24a / classic yibum.

Sefaria — Yevamos 24a / classic yibum

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
בֹּא אֶל אֵשֶׁת אָחִיךָ וְיַבֵּם אֹתָהּ — מִצְוַת יִבּוּם קוֹדֶמֶת לְמִצְוַת חֲלִיצָה.

English: “Come in to your brother’s wife and perform yibum with her” — the mitzvah of yibum takes precedence over the mitzvah of chalitzah.

In context: The command to Onan is the Torah’s primary language of yibum; the Bavli ranks the options.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bavli) — not a formal named middah of the 13. Narrative command grounds the ranking of yibum over chalitzah.

What Is Learned

Where yibum is possible, it is preferred to chalitzah; the verse states the duty positively.